Valve for water-closets



(No Model.) v 2 Sheet's-fS'heet 1..

W. SCOTT.

VALVE POR WATER CLOSETS.

MYX

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(No M'oaelj) zsheets-sheet v2.

W. SCOTT. VALVE 'FOR WATER GLosETs.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885..

Wij/755555 W 550i limite Frane! Partnr tries@ WILLIAM SCOTT, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE FoRwTER-CLOSETS.

SPECIFTCATEQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,557, dated December 1, 1885.

i Application tiled November 26, 188.4` Serial No. 148,911. (No model.)

To all w/"wm t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM SCOTT, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valvesfor Vater- Closets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to apparatus of water-closets, urinals, and other water arrangements or Xtures employed in the water systems of dwelling houses, hotels, and other buildings for supplying water as desired froni time to time to water-closets and urinalbowls, 81e., from a tank or reservoir.

The class of such apparatuses to which this invention is particularly applicable is one that is well known and in common and general use, and for the present purpose may be described generally as an apparatus in which is used, first, a valve to open the discharge-pipe of the water tank or reservoir and leading therefrom to the water-closet bowl, &e., for the supply of water to said bowl, and to close it against said supply of water; and, second, an air and overilow pipe#7 as it is generally known, for the escape of the overflow of water from the tank when the water rises above a given or stated level therein, and for its de livery into the discharge-pipe of the tank at a point below the seat of the valve to said pipe before referred to. This air and overflow pipe is at all times open both to the tank `just above the given or stated water-level therein and to the discharge-pipe of the tank, and consequently permits the escape of lair at all times and the escape of the water of the tank at the particular time stated.

This invention more particularly pertains to apparatus, such as above described, in which a chambered valve is used, having water and air passages for the ingress and egress of water and air, substantially as shown and described in the Letters.]?ate1it of the United States issued to me, dated April 22, 1884, No. 297,455; but, as will be apparent from the description which follows, this invention in some if not all of its features isapplicable to Valves of other forms and arrangements, and therefore it is not intended to limit it in that regard. A

This invention consistsm First, of mechanism for opening the valve of the discharge-pipe leading from the tank to the water-closet bowl, &c. 'for the delivery of water through said pipe to said bowl, and for causing the valve or permitting it to close said pipe to the passage of the water through itto said bowl,

according as the connection between said mechanism and the valve is a rigid or a eXible oneas, for instance, made by a wire or rod or by a chain. This mechanism consists, in substance, of two levers, one of which is connected directly to the valve and the other to the operating mechanism or device at the water-closet, urinal, Src., and through which the power for operating the valve is applied. constructed and the two are arranged in relation to each other as hereinafter fully described, and all in a manner to secure in both the forward and backward movements of the operating-lever connected to the operating mechanism or device at the water-closet, urin al, Ste., a movement of the lever connected to the valve in one and the same direction, and that in the proper direction, to open the valve, and otherwise to secure or to permitthe close ofthe valve.

Second, of the combination, with the dischargepipe of a water-tank or other suitable supply leading to the bowl of a water-closet, urinal, &c., of a partition or \vall-such, for instance, as a plate-which is located in the water.-passage of said pipe, and is arranged and is made capable of adjustment therein for the size or area of saiduvater-passage, to be readily changed and adjusted or regulated to the quantity of water desired to be discharged through said pipe tothe bowl in a given time. Third, in the combination, with a Water tank, of a chambered valve having an air-passage leading from its chamber into the waterpassage of the discharge-pipe of said tank and extending below the seat of the valve of said pipe, of a partition or wall--such, for instance, as a plate*which is located in the water-pas sage of said pipe above the point of discharge of air from the Valve into said water-passage and between said point of discharge and the seat of the valve, preferably made capable of adjustment therein, and constructed andarranged to reduce the size or area of said waterpassage to a size or an area equal to or less than the size or area of the water-passage of the discharge-pipe below its said partition,

Each lever is IOO should the water-passage of the dischargepipe below said partition, and for a greater or lesser portion of its length, be of a size or area less than the size or area of the waterpassage before it is reduced, as stated, at the location of said partition.

In the accompanying plates of drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal vertical section through a water-tank, an overiiow and an air-pipe combined in one, adischarge-pipe and its valve, and showing in elevation the operating and valve levers for the valve of the discharge-pipe in their normal position and said valve closed, and also inV elevation the floatvalve connected with the air and overflow pipe and the same opened. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are front elevations showing the operating valve.

and valve levers in their different positions as they are worked and as will hereinafter fully appear. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus as the same is shown in Fig. '1.

In the drawings, A is a water-tank.

B is a discharge-pipe leading from the bottom of the tank and connected to a watercloset bowl, tc.

C is the overiiow and air pipe, in communication with the external air just above the stated. or given level at A3 of the water in the tank, and with the water-passage of the discharge-pipe just below its communication at E with the water tank, all as usual in the water systems of dwelling-houses, hotels, and other buildings.

D is a hollowr or chambered valve, made of sheet metal or other suitable material, and of any suitable shape-as, for instance, hemispherical-and having a seat by its fiat side F provided with a washer or other packingdisk, a, of leather or of other suitable material, upon the upper edge or rim surrounding the opening E of the discharge-pipe B to the tank. This packing or washer a secures close contact of the Valve with its seat when it is resting thereon, and the valve seated extends or laps beyond the sides of the opening E of the discharge-pipe to the tank. The valve seated is below the water-level and wholly submerged in the water in the tank, and so seated the discharge-pipe is closed to the passage of the water in the tank through it.

L is a'vertical tubular air-passage of the This air-tube leadsl downward from a point near the top of the chamber J of the valve through a watertight opening in the flat side F of the valve D, and from thence through and below a Xed concentric guidecollar, M, of the discharge-pipe, and below this collar it is provided with a collar, N, making a shoulder thereon. The guide-collar M is open around and between it and the inner vertical wall of the discharge-pipe, to alf low the water from the tank to pass down and through said pipe, and the air-pipe L is open at each end, communicating at its upper end 'with the valve-chamber J, and at its lower end with the water-passage of the discharge-pipe; but otherwise it is closed air-tight in every respect to said chamber and said pipe. The air-tube L and collar M guide the valve in its upward and downward movement for the opening and closing of the water-passage B, and the shoulder made on the tube by the collar N limits the upward movement of the valve.

H is an opening through the flat side of the valve, and making communication between its chamber J and the water-passage of the discharge-pipe when the valve is closed. This opening is for the passage of the water of the tank into and out of the valve-chamber, asv

will hereinafter fully appear.

O is a vertical stem or wire rod, at its lower end hung to a fixed stud or head, b, at the center of the upper and convex side of the valve D, and at its upper end hung to one end of a lever, R, turning upon a fixed horizontal fulcrum-pin, k, of a stationary standard or upright, S, either supported, as shown, upon the top of the water-tank or upon any other suitable support therefor. This lever at rest and in its normal position, Figs. l and 4L, rests by its lower edge, j, upon a fixed abutment or support, T2, therefor of the standard S, and in this position of the lever the valve is on its seat of the discharge-pipe B, closing said pipe, as before stated,- to the passage of water from the tank; The lever R is the valve-leverof the operating-levers of this invention for the valve, and will be hereinafter so called for convenience of description.

A2 and T are two noses or projections eX- tending upward from the upper edge, d, of the valve-lever, with a notch or depression, P, between and separating them. These noses A2 T, for the operation of the lever to be hereinafter described, present three working and bearing surfaces or edges, f2, m, and n. The bearingsurface f2 is on the nose A2, and it is more or less horizontal, and continued in the bearing-surface n, which is more or less vertical, and makes one vertical side wall or boundary of the notch or depression P, separating the two noses, and has opposite to it, and which makes the other vertical side Wall or boundaryof said notch, the remaining bearing-surface, m, of the three, which is more or less vertical and on the nose T.

U is a lever hung, as shown, by a vertical slot or elongated bearing, q, upon a horizontal fulcrum-pin, r, of the upright S. This lever U is located above the valve-lever R, and its fulcrum-pin r is between the fulcrum-pin 7c and the end g of the valve-lever connected to the valve, and it is the operating-lever of the two. levers of this invention, and will be hereinafter so called for convenience of designation or description.

The operating-lever U, at the outer end, h, of its arm X, is connected to any suitable operating device-aa for instance, to the floor,

door, or seat of a water-closet, or to a handle,

IOO

IIO

, nose C2, and one, d2, is horizontal and located between said two vertical surfaces, joining them at their lower ends. This nose C2, with its said bearing-surfaces d2, b2, and a2, is situated on its lever U, and in relation to the three bearing-surfaces f2 m n of the valve-lever, before described, so as to present (with the operating-lever in its normal position and at restby its upper edge against the fixed abutment B2 therefor of the upright S, and the valve-lever in its normal position and at rest by its lower edge, j, upon its fixed abutment T2) its horizontal working or bearing surface d2 toward the horizontal or bearing surface f2 of the nose A2 of the valve-lever, and in this presentation of the working-surface dZ of the operating-lever U to the working-surface.jC2 of the valve-lever R the other working-surfaces, m and n, and the notch P of the valvelever R are between such position of said nose C2 and the fulcrum-pin r of the operatinglever, Fig. l.

Y is a weight applied to the arm V of the operating-lever opposite tothat connected as described for the working of the lever. This weight is fastened by a thumb-screw. G, and it is arranged otherwise in any suitable manner for being adjusted and set in position upon the arm of the lever, as it may be desired to increase or decrease the force or power of t-he leverage thereof.

c is a fixed vertical projection from upright S, aad located between the operating and valve levers and their fulcrum-pins r lr. The upper horizontal edge, f, of this projection in the operation of the levers makes a fulcrum for the operating lever, all as will hereinafter fully appear. Pulling downward on the arm X of the operating-lever, which is connected, as described, for so working said lever, raises its opposite arm against its weight, and in this continued movement of the two levers the nose C2 of the operating-lever escapes vat its said bearing d2 from its bearing]c2 upon the valvey lever lt, and, entering into the notch P of the valve-lever, comes by its vertical bearing-sur# face bAZ against the vertical bearing-surface m of the nose T of said valve-lever, and, pressing thereon toward the end of the lever connected to the valve, forces the valve-lever to its seat upon its abutment T2, closing the valve and stopping` all further movements of the operating-lever in the direction stated. During this working of the bearing-surface b2 of the nose C2 of operating-lever against the bearing-surface fm, of valve-lever, as above described, and just before'it is completed, the operating-lever comes to its fulcrum-rest e, and thus lengthening the arm thereof to which the weight is applied, and which arm in the return movement of the operating-lever acts to again lift the valve-lever and its valve, as hereinafter described, and secures an increased leverage thereof on the valve-lever and valve, withv a decreased length of travel of the end ofthe operating -lever to which the operatingV deI- vice-such as a water-closet seat-,'tc-isconnected. The elongated bearingq ofthe operating-lever upon its fulcrum-pin r allows,

`when this change of the lever to the fulcruinbearing e occurs, a working of the lever thereon in its further movements. On-.the` release of the operating-lever it is 'moved backward hy the weight of its weighted arm turning then on its supplementary fulcru-m e as a bearing, and having `increased leverage thereby, and, by the then hearing and working of the vertical bearing-surface a2 of its knob` or nose C2 upon and against the vertical bearing-surface n of the nose T of the valvelever, secures a lifting of said lever at its end connected to the valve and another opening of the valve, until by the continued movement it comes to a position of rest against its abutment B2, which brings the nose or knob C2 by its bearing-surface d2 again into position for operation, as described, upon the horizontal 'bearing-surfacef of the nose A2 of the valvelever in the next downward pull upon. the arm X of the operating-lever, and leaves the valve-lever free to come to its rest upon the abutment therefor from the then closing of the valve, as will be hereinafter described.

From the above description it `is apparent that a continuous downward pull upon the arm X of the operating-lever U secures, first, by the working the bearing-surfaces d2 f2 of it and of the valve-lever, a lifting of the end g of the valve-lever to which the valve` is hung, and .a consequent lifting of the valve from its seat; and, second, an escape of such surfaces one from the other, and athen working of the bearing-surfaces b2 m, of said levers, which forces the valve-lever to its rest on its abutment T2, and with a rigid connection of the valve to said lever thereby positively se.- cures a closing ofthe valve upon its seat, followed by the then return of the operatinglever, if the force applied to it to pull its end downward, as described, is removed, which, by the working of the bearing-surfaces c2 n of the levers, again secures a lifting of the end g of the valve-lever and of the valve until said working-surfaces pass from their contact and IOO IIO

IIS

the operating-lever has come to a rest against its abutment B2, leaving the valve-lever and its valve free, the one to return to its rest on the abutment T2 and the other to close on its seat.

In Fig. l, as before stated, the levers R and U are shown in their normal positions with the valve closed. In Fig. 3 they are shown in positions just after their bearingsurfaces Pf2 have escaped from each other with the valveleve-r raised, and securing the first opening of the valve, and their bearingsurfaces b2 m in position to work for the depression of the end g of the Valve-lever on a continued downward pull upon theend 7L of the operating-lever, and :in Fig; I they are shown in position after the valvelever has been forced to its rest T2 and the valve closed, and the operating-lever has finished its downward movement at its end h and is in readiness on the return movement of said end of the operatvinglever, by the action of the weighted arm V thereof, for a working of the bearing-surfaces a2 n of the lever, to again raise the valvelever, and through it the valve. When the valve is lifted from its seat, opening the discharge-pipe B of the tank in the rst operation of the levers R U, above described, to raise the valvelever, as the connection O between the valve and its lever is a rigid one, by the positive return of the valve-lever directly following the lifting thereof in the continued pull downward on the operating-lever, as described, the valve is thereby positively returned to its seat, closing the discharge-pipe. When the valve is lifted from its seat, opening` the disohargepipe B of the tank in the second operation of the levers R U, as described, to raise the valve-lever, and as the lifting of the valve-lever and its valve is directly followed by a release thereof to their own motion, the return of the valvelever to its rest and of Vthe valve to its seat, closing the discharge-pipe,

. is practically from the entrance of the water of the tank through the water-passage H of the valve into the chamber thereof, which finally weights it sufficiently to overcome its floating capacity or quality, and thereby to cause it to seat,'closing the water-passage of the tank, and at the same time bringing the valvelever to its rest upon the abutment T2.

v As the'water enters into the valve D as above described the air therein escapes through the air-tube L into the discharge-pipe, and when the valve is seated the water which has entered it then discharges itself through the waterpassage H into the discharge-pipe, rendering the valve capable of another operation, as

- before.

valve would then be secured either from weighting of it with water, as has been described, for its return after the second lifting of the'valve, or from the suction of the water running from the tank of the discharge-pipe, should the valve in this first instance be lifted but a short distance from its seat, for the reason hereinafter stated, or from both.

The first lifting of the valve, as described, is for securing a preliminary wash, as it is termed, of the water-closet bowl, 85e., and the second for securing an after wash,77 as it is termed, thereof, and the preliminary wash is to be small in quantity in comparison with that of the after wash, and so the levers are arranged to close the valve after its lift for the preliminary wash and leave the valve to its own closing for the after wash.

The valve herein described of itself constitutes no part of the present invention.

The lever mechanism herein described obviously may be used with valves of other constructions, and therefore it is vnot intended to limit said mechanism ofitself to the particular valve shown, or otherwise to any of the other features of this invention shown in connection with it.

The discharge-pipe-B, Figs. l and 2, at one side thereof within the tank, is provided with a horizontal hollow boss or projection, D2, opening at one end into said pipe and at the other end made with a teat, t, opening upward, and .into which the overflow and airpipe C is screwed.

E2 is a plate placed inside ofthe hollow boss D2 of the discharge-pipe and resting upon the bottom wall, u, leaving an open space above and between it and the upper wall, o, and eir-` tending from side to side of said boss.

w is a stud or projection on upper side of plate E2, bearing against upper wall of bosschamber, and having attached to it a stem or rod, w, which passes through a suitablypacked or other water-tight opening or bearing,1,in the end of the boss and to the outside thereof, where it is provided with a milled head or knob, z. The plate E2, operating it from its knob,can .be moved forward and backward in the boss to project i'ts end portion, a3, into and across the water-passage of the dis- IOO IIO

charge-pipe B, so as to reduce the size or area valve is opened.

ways-as, for instance, for the regulation or adjustment of the quantity of water to be delivered to the bowl,&c., in a given time to prevent its splashing and spattering about and over it; and again, when the discharge-pipe below its valve-opening, using a valve of a construction substantially such as described, and the discharge-pipe is of a reduced size or area, as shown at m2, Fig. l, from that of said opening, to obviate the backing up, asit were, of the water around the air-tube L, and thus, by closing it at its lower end to the escape of air from the valve, hinder or prevent the water from entering the valve through the wa ter-passage thereof' to weight it for it to drop to its seat, as has been described.

The slide-plate E2 is simple and effective, and when once adjusted it is not liable to accidental changes or disturbances, and it is all sufficient for the purposes intended 5 but other obvious forms of partitions might be usedas,for instance, a rotary partition, similar in construction to a damper or regulator, Src., of stove-pipes, Sta-and yet secure the same result; and therefore this invention as to this feature, is not to be limited to the particular form or arrangement of said partition herein shown and described, nor to the use of one or more thereof. The invent-ion as to this consists, in substance, of a partition or wall in the dischargepassage leading from the tank, preferably constructed and arranged to be adj usted to reduce the size or area of the opening of said discharge, as may be desired, to obtain the results specified.

Gr2 is a valve-plate hinged at one side of the air and overflow pipe G at its upper end, and opening upward therefrom. This valve is of a shape and size that, closed upon the open upper end ofthe air and overow pipe, it wholly covers said open end; but in so covering said open end of said pipe it is preferable not to close it absolutely air-tight, but only sufficiently so to prevent the free passage of air under it into the pipe and allow it to enter with a slow or retarded movement, as it were, as compared with a free and unobstructed movement of the air.

H2 is a curved arm,at one end connected to the overiiow and air pipe valve Gr2 and at its outer end d2, attached to aball-float, Kwhich is arranged to iioat upon the surface of the water in the tank, and, together with the curvature of the arm by which it is attached to the valve, otherwise adapted to insure the uncovering of the upper end of the air and overflow pipe, either when the water is at a given and stated level in the tank or when the water rises above said level, should it from any cause do so, and, in the latter case, thus escape is provided for the water through said pipe and a closing of said upper end of the air and overflow pipe, substantially as described, when by the drawing off of water from the tank through its discharge-pipe B as the level of water in the tank reduces, because thereof and until its given level is again reached by a fresh supply of water to the tank.

A restricted and hampered entrance of air through the air and overflow pipe, as `described, and which, as is plain, is maintained even aft-er the valve of the discharge-pipe is closed7 and until the water reaches its stated level in the tank, secures a reduced pressure of air at the back as compared with the pressure of air at the front of the water, passing through the discharge-pipe to the bowl, &c., and a consequent retardation of the flow of water through the pipe to the bowl, which should be made suflicient, at least, by proper regulation of the entrance of air at the air-pipe C to insure the required retention of water in the catch-basin or in the trap, or in both, of the water-closet bowl, tre., should both be combined or employed therewith, at the termina tion of the run ofthe water from the discharge pipe of the tank to and through said bowl.

An airpipe, C, with avalve and arrangement thereof such as herein described, may be used separately from the overlioW-pipe; butin such case if the overliow communicates with the discharge-pipe of the tank, but not otherwise, it (the overow-pipe) should beprovidedwith a tloat-valveto close it airtight when the water' of the tank goes below its given level, and as the water from the tank is running through the discharge-pipe to the bowl, 8vo., after the valve is closed.

The arrangement and construction and combination of air and overflow pipe herein described is most efficient, simple, and practical, and in such respects most advantageous.

The elongated fulcrunrbearing q, as also the supplementary fulcrum e for the operatinglever, may both be dispensed with and yet secure the opening and closing of the valve substantially as herein described; but it is preferable to employ them both, for the reason that with them increased leverage is given to the operating-lever to raise the valve-lever from its rest or abutment, and thus to lift the valve on the return movement of the operating-lever, and the movement of the arm X of the operating-lever connected with the operating mechanism at the water-closet, Sto., is thereby reduced in length.

The regulating-slide for discharge-pipe of water-tank can be used with other forms of valves for the discharge-pipe than that particularly shown and described, and with other forms of operating-levers for the valves of the discharge-pipes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters'Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with a tank for liq uid, an outlet-pipe for the liquid, and a valve to said outlet-pipe, of two pivoted levers for operating said valve, one lever beingprovided with a nose, C2, having three bearing-faces, d2, b2, and a2, and the other with a nose, A2, having bearing-surface f2, and a nose, T, having AI OO bearing-surface m and separating notch or depression P, substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with a tank for liquid, an outlet-pipe for the liquid, and a valve to said outlet-pipe, of two pivoted levers for operating said valve, one lever provided with a nose, C2, having three bearing-surfaces, d2, b2, and q2, a sliding pivotal point, and a supplementary fulcrum, e, and the other with a nose, AZ, having bearing-surface f2, and a nose, T, having bearing-surface m and separating notch or depression P, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. In a tank for liquid, a discharge or outlet pipe for the liquid, a guided valve to said outlet-pipe adapted to be opened and closed, and a pipe which enters said outlet-pipe below the seat of its valve and is adapted to make communication between the liquid-passage of said outlet-pipe and the external air, in combination with a valve or partition located in said outlet-pipe' below the seat of its valve and adapted to reduce the area of the liquid-passage of said outlet-pipe', substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a tank for liquid,

`an outlet-pipe for the liquid, a valve to' said low the seat of the valve to said pipe, of a outlet-pipe having liquid and air passages, the air-passage extending into the outlet-pi pe, and the valve adapted to be opened and closed, and an air-pipe separate from the air-passage of the valve and leading from the outside of the liquid in the tank to the outlet-pipe be- 35 valve-plate or partition located within the outlet-pipe near its valve-seat and in relation to said air-passage of the valve, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with a tank for liquid, .to

yan' outlet-pipe, B, for the liquid, having a valve adapted to be opened and closed, and

. an air and overflow pipe, C, connected to said outlet-pipe through a boss or side proj ect-ion,

D2, thereof, in combination with-aslide-plate, 45

`EZ, adapted to regulate the size of the opening of the outlet-pipe for the passage of liquid from the tank, substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5o my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLTAM SCOTT. Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, WM. T. BELLoWs. 

